Automatic apparatus for irrigation, with timer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for watering gardens or flowers in pots, at fixed and predetermined intervals; comprising an electro-valve for opening and closing a water distributing conduit, a control switch of the electrovalve, said switch in turn being controlled by means of several cams which are placed on a rotating timer disc so as to jut out from it, in positions chosen according to the desired timetable, the length of the cams depending on the period of irrigation desired. Spraying means are also foreseen.

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 3,921,903

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR IRRIGATION, WITH TIMER The object of the presentinvention is an apparatus for watering pot-plants, flowerbeds orgardens, at preestablished intervals, and for pre-established periods oftime. The object of the present application is also an apparatussuitable for spreading and nebulizing the irrigating water jet.

It is often a problem, for those who have care of gardens, or even onlyof plants in pots, to be able to leave home for several days, if theycannot find someone who will substitute them in said care, since theplants need to be watered daily, often more than once. The need for ameans which can arrange in advance said operations of irrigation withthe desired time-table and period is very much felt.

The apparatus according to the present invention achieves theabove-mentioned aims by means of a timer disc which is continuouslymoved by a small electric motor and which has housings for cams, onwhich can be placed cams of different dimensions, suitable forcontrolling, by means of a lever device, the closing of an electriccircuit which controls the flow of irrigating water.

To collaborate with this device there has been realized, according tothe present application, a diffusing device, to be placed in the groundto be watered, and which consists of a spraying nozzle and a plateopposite to it.

Some realizations of the present invention will be described in thefollowing with reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a scheme of electric and hydraulic connections for theapparatus object of the application;

FIG. 2 is a front view of apparatus for the time control of the waterflow, with the front cover partially removed to show the interior;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with the cover removed;

FIG. 4 is partially a lateral view and partia'llya section according to44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of another type of timer disc applicable to theapparatus of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a section according to 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view from the top of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a type of realization of the diffuser device.

Considering the scheme of FIG. 1, there can be noted that on a hydraulicconduit I, joined upstream to a normal tap 2, an electric valve 3 isplaced, which according to the position assumed by a mercury contact orthe like, allows the flow or the blocking of the water from the conduit1 to a second conduit 4, downstream of the electro-valve 3, whichcarries the water to the plants or an irrigating device. Theelectro-valve 3 is connected to an electric control circuit through asecondary switch 5, which may be of the mercury bulb type as in thefigures, or of any other suitable type (spring switch, press switch,etc.). To the same circuit, but downstream of the secondary switch, anelectric motor 6 is connected, which, through a reduction unit 7,rotatingly works a timer disc 8, which bears one or more cams 9 for theworking of the secondary switch 5.

The electric circuit, downstream, is closed by a main switch 10,eventually with a warning light 11, and can be normally connected, forexample, by means of a plug, to the domestic electricity supply.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 can be seen one way of realizing an apparatuscorresponding to the scheme of FIG. 1. A box body 12 having a medianwall 13 bears, on one side of this wall, a generally synchronous motor,6, which causes to rotate, by means of the reducer 7 (of which in thedrawing only the case is visible) a pin 14, rotating within a suitablehousing in the wall 13. The timer disc 8 is solidly fixed to the pin 14.Preferably, the reduction will be such that the disc 8 will carry outone rotation of 360 in 24 hours. In this embodiment, the disc 8 isformed with a jutting edge 15 on which are applied one or morecam-bearing clamps, such as 16 in the drawing, fixing them in thedesired position, for example by means of a screw 17.

In one or more of the applied clamps a cam 9 is inserted by pressure,the cam 9 may be chosen among cams of different sizes.

The position on the periphery of thetimer disc of a cam to be inserteddepends on the hour at which it is desired to carry out the irrigation;to facilitate the positioning, the disc 8 will bear markings of the hourand When the general switch causes the disc 8 to rotate with a constantspeed, for exthe part of the cover 18, which covers it will betransparent and easily removable. The duration of the irrigation isdetermined by the dimension of the cam applied. On the wall 13,furthermore, there is fixed, pivoted in 19, a lever 20, which on one endbears the mercury switch 5, and on the opposite part to the said endwith respect to the pivot 19, is returned against a retainer 22, by aspring 23, anchored to the wall 13. Preferably, the spring 23 is notdirectly connected to the lever 20, but to a lever element 24, pivotedin 25, on the end of lever 20, opposite to that of the switch 5. On thebox body 12, furthermore, is fixed-the electro-valve 3, controlled bythe switch 5, and from the body 12 jut the pipe unions 26 and 27 forconnection to the water conduits 1 and 4. The box is closed by a frontcover 28 and by a back cover 29, and bears means for fixing for ex ampleto a wall and eventually means to correct the slope (necessary if thereis a mercury switch). Preferably the main switch 10 with thewarning'light 11 will be placed on the said front cover.

10 is closed, the motor ample in the direction of the arrrow in FIG. 2.When a cam 9, touches the'upper am of the element 24, the lever 20rotates around its'pivot l9 and the circuit is closed through the switch5, the electro-valve 3 is then brought into action, which permitsthepassage of the water from the conduit 1 tothe conduit 4. This situationis maintained during the whole period in which the cam 9 is in contactwith the element 24. When, following the disc in its rotation, the camleaves the element 24, the spring 23 calls the lever 24 back into therest position; the switch 5 interrupts the circuit and the water flowceases.

An eventual manual rotation of the disc 8 in the direction opposite tothe arrow, for example for regulation, is permitted by the element 24,which at the passage from the cam inclines without involving in itsmovement the other parts of the mechanism, and then takes up its normalposition again.

A possible variant for the timer disc and the cam bearing element isshown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment the disc 8' issubstantially flat, and one or more cam bearing elements 30, can beapplied to it, for example as in the figure, which are fixed to the discin the positions corresponding to the time chosen for the watering. Theelement 30 in the drawing is fixed in the pivoting point 14 of the disc,and for example in the points 31 by means of screws; preferably it has asmall window 32 which allows the specific time indication among those onthe timer disc to be seen. On the cam bearing element 30 is pivoted, soas to be able to assume four rotating positions, a cam-roller orcamwheels, that is, a roller 33 having on its circumference a smoothportion and 3 jutting cams of different circumferences able to jut outbeyond the edge of the element 30.

Obviously, rollers with more or less than four positions and more orless than three cams can be provided.

The time of watering is fixed by placing the element 30 in the desiredposition, the duration of the watering is fixed by rotating the wheel 33so that the cam of the desired length presents itself.

The working of the apparatus having the disc 8 is equal to the workingof the apparatus having the disc 8.

The conduit 4 exiting from the timer device may lead to any knownirrigating or watering device. The apparatus of the present applicationhowever, also comprises an improved device for distributing the waterover an area to be watered. Said device is represented in FIG. 8 and canbe used both for flower pots as well as for flowerbeds or separateplants, or the said devices can be distributed over a wider area.

The device essentially comprises a spraying element 35 and a plateelement 36. The spraying element 35 has a connecting means 37, to awater pipe, a nozzle 38 and a stem 39 which is fixed into the ground.The plate element 36 has a plate part 40 and a stem 42 which is fixedinto the ground. The two elements are placed facing as in the drawing.The pressure normally existing in the water tube is sufficient togenerate a jet of water from the nozzle 38, the water striking againstthe plate 40, spraying out and spreading over the surrounding ground. lfdesired, an upper cap 41 around the upper part of the plate stops thewater from dispersing upwards.

The device can also be constructed with the spray and the plate facingeach other on a single stem.

Other variations are possible in the apparatus subject of theapplication, for example, as has been said, the mercury switch may besubstituted by a spring switch, press switch, etc., without departingfrom the field of protection of this application.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants and thelike on a timetable and for a predeter mined period comprising, incombination, an electrovalve for opening and closing a conduit for thedistribution of water, a switch for controlling said electrovalve, arotating timer disc having a peripheral edge portion, at least onecam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachably mounted onsaid timer disc peripheral edge portion at a selected location on thecircumference of said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, acam arranged to be mounted on said clamping element for operating saidswitch, said cam having an extension of a selected size in accordancewith the desired length of the period of irrigation.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said switch is of themercury bulb type, and including pivotally mounted lever means forsupporting said mercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable intoone position for opening said switch and into another position forclosing said switch, means for urging said lever means into said oneposition, said lever means 4 being engageable by said cam extensionduring the rotation of said disc in one direction for moving said levermeans into said other position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lever means includerelease means for maintaining said lever means in said one position withsaid switch in the open position during the rotation of said disc in theopposite direction.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said timing disc isprovided with graduations to provide a visual indication of the hours.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for distributing theirrigating water over the surface to be watered, said means comprising anozzle spraying element connected to the conduit for distribution of thewater and a plate element disposed adjacent said nozzle in a selectedspaced relationship therewith and ground insertion means for supportingsaid water distribution means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including a sprayprotecting cap onthe upper portion of said plate element.

7. Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants or the likeon a timetable and for a predetermined period comprising in combination,an electrovalve for opening and closing a conduit for the distributionof water, a switch for controlling said electrovalve, a rotating timerdisc, a cam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachablymounted on said timer disc at a selected location on the circumferenceof said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, a cam comprisinga roller rotatably mounted on said clamping element, said roller havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced extensions of various sizes onits outer periphery, and being rotatable into a selected one of a,plurality of angular positions for presenting a selected extension tosaid switch in accordance with the desired length of the period ofirrigation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said roller includes a smoothperipheral portion free of said extensions, said roller being rotatableinto another angular position to-present said smooth peripheral portionfor avoiding said switch, thereby omitting the irrigation at the hourestablished by said clamping element.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said switch is of themercury bulb type, and including pivotally mounted lever means forsupporting said mercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable intoone position for opening said switch and into another position forclosing said switch, means for urging said lever means into said oneposition, said lever means being engageable by said cam extension duringthe rotation of said disc in one direction for moving said lever meansinto said other position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said lever means includerelease means for maintaining said lever means in said one position withsaid switch in the open position during the rotation of said disc in theopposite direction.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said timing disc is providedwith graduations to provide a visual indication of the hours and whereinsaid clamping element is mounted for adjustable pivotal movement aboutthe central axis of said disc and including circumferentially spacedmeans adjacent the outer periphery of said disc for fixing said elementto said disc in an adjusted angular position and wherein said element isprovided with a window for exposing said gradnozzle in a selected spacedrelationship therewith and ground insertion means for supporting saidwater distribution means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, includinga spray-protecting cap onthe upper portion of the plate element.

1. Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants and thelike on a timetable and for a predetermined period comprising, incombination, an electro-valve for opening and closing a conduit for thedistribution of water, a switch for controlling said electro-valve, arotating timer disc having a peripheral edge portion, at least onecam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachably mounted onsaid timer disc peripheral edge portion at a selected location on thecircumference of said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, acam arranged to be mounted on said clamping element for operating saidswitch, said cam having an extension of a selected size in accordancewith the desired length of the period of irrigation.
 2. Apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said switch is of the mercury bulbtype, and including pivotally mounted lever means for supporting saidmercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable into one positionfor opening said switch and into another position for closing saidswitch, means for urging said lever means into said one position, saidlever means being engageable by said cam extension during the rotationof said disc in one direction for moving said lever means into saidother position.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said levermeans include release means for maintaining said lever means in said oneposition with said switch in the open position during the rotation ofsaid disc in the opposite direction.
 4. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said timing disc is provided with graduationS toprovide a visual indication of the hours.
 5. Apparatus according toclaim 1, including means for distributing the irrigating water over thesurface to be watered, said means comprising a nozzle spraying elementconnected to the conduit for distribution of the water and a plateelement disposed adjacent said nozzle in a selected spaced relationshiptherewith and ground insertion means for supporting said waterdistribution means.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including aspray-protecting cap on the upper portion of said plate element. 7.Apparatus for automatically irrigating or watering plants or the like ona timetable and for a predetermined period comprising in combination, anelectro-valve for opening and closing a conduit for the distribution ofwater, a switch for controlling said electro-valve, a rotating timerdisc, a cam-supporting clamping element arranged to be detachablymounted on said timer disc at a selected location on the circumferenceof said disc in accordance with the desired timetable, a cam comprisinga roller rotatably mounted on said clamping element, said roller havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced extensions of various sizes onits outer periphery, and being rotatable into a selected one of aplurality of angular positions for presenting a selected extension tosaid switch in accordance with the desired length of the period ofirrigation.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rollerincludes a smooth peripheral portion free of said extensions, saidroller being rotatable into another angular position to present saidsmooth peripheral portion for avoiding said switch, thereby omitting theirrigation at the hour established by said clamping element. 9.Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said switch is of themercury bulb type, and including pivotally mounted lever means forsupporting said mercury bulb switch, said lever means being movable intoone position for opening said switch and into another position forclosing said switch, means for urging said lever means into said oneposition, said lever means being engageable by said cam extension duringthe rotation of said disc in one direction for moving said lever meansinto said other position.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, whereinsaid lever means include release means for maintaining said lever meansin said one position with said switch in the open position during therotation of said disc in the opposite direction.
 11. Apparatus accordingto claim 7, wherein said timing disc is provided with graduations toprovide a visual indication of the hours and wherein said clampingelement is mounted for adjustable pivotal movement about the centralaxis of said disc and including circumferentially spaced means adjacentthe outer periphery of said disc for fixing said element to said disc inan adjusted angular position and wherein said element is provided with awindow for exposing said graduations on said disc corresponding toselected positions of said element on said disc.
 12. Apparatus accordingto claim 7, including means for distributing the irrigating water overthe surface to be watered, said means comprising a nozzle sprayingelement connected to the conduit for distribution of the water and aplate element disposed adjacent said nozzle in a selected spacedrelationship therewith and ground insertion means for supporting saidwater distribution means.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, includinga spray-protecting cap on the upper portion of the plate element.